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There are currently 36 member reviews
for Peach Blossom Spring
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Doris K. (Mountain Iron, MN)
Peach Blossom Spring
Historical Fiction fans, this is a book for you! It covers China from 1932 to 2019 so is also recent Chinese "history".
The book includes family dynamics along with problems and advantages involved in a mixed marriage, both for parents and children.
Many Chinese customs are illustrated through the lives of the interesting characters created by this author.
The Japan-China conflict and later the civil war in China were clarified for me through the experiences of the Chinese families.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Peach Blossom Spring and will recommend it to my many book loving friends and members of my book club.
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Helia R. (Goodlettsville, TN)
I didn't want this novel to end (yet I stayed up late and got up early to finish it).
The story follows Meilin and her son, Renshu, for a span of almost seventy years, as they make the perilous journey from war-torn, mainland China in 1938 to temporary safety in Taiwan to living different lives on different continents. I was inspired by Meilin's resilience, her love for her son, and the deep bond between them, and I was heartbroken by the many losses and setbacks the two of them must suffer. Yet the suffering is never without hope (Renshu, renamed 'Henry', makes a middle-class life for himself in the US and fathers a daughter who symbolizes the melting pot in all its questioning glory).
The novel covers more emotional ground than any I've read in a long while, the characters are utterly relatable, and Fu's prose is never less than evocative and stunning. All thumbs.
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Sally H. (Homosassa, FL)
I hated to see it end...
I absolutely loved this book. It checked all the required boxes for historical fiction and painted a heartrending picture of life in mainland China before, during and after WW2. As should be the case with good historical fiction, I learned things I didn't know. Some parts of the story moved faster than others, but I didn't find that, or the narrative style, distracting. Characters were well-developed and realistic enough that I got irritated with them at times. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially to book clubs.
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Vivian H. (Winchester, VA)
Beautiful & Timely
Peace Blossom Spring is a beautifully written story about family ties, the effects of world, civil war when it is impossible to know who can be trusted, a mother's strength and determination, the value of stories that resonate throughout a lifetime, resilience, memories, happiness in small things, and the immigrant experience in America.
So much of this saga feels personal. I had the good fortune to spend two years in Taiwan followed by three years in Hong Kong and had conversations with people who lived through much of what Renshu and Meilin experienced in Peach Blossom Spring. The fears of government retaliation against family if one says the wrong thing. The identity crisis of what it means to be Chinese, how foreign students visiting China were treated as foreign dogs, how the Taiwan people never truly rest while PRC continues the threat of reunification…a nightmare of more than 70 years.
I love the stories from the precious scroll that Meilin tells Renshu through their journey.
And this quote makes my heart sing:
"Within every misfortune there is a blessing and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune. And so it goes, until the end of time."
I usually pass along books to share with others. But this one I will keep.
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Mitzi (Atlanta, GA)
Compelling Saga
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu is a story that spans several generations beginning with the second Sino-Japanese War. Fu not only looks at the historical events, she also examines the consequences and generational impact of the trauma associated with the war, aftermath, and political fallout. Sensitive subject matter is carefully handled.
The passion the author has for this story is evident in her research and attention to detail. This resilient story will stay with me. I highly recommend this debut novel. Fans of Min Jin Lee's Pachinko will savor this one!
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Paula J. (Bath, ME)
Would have liked to read more!
I enjoyed all of "Peach Blossom Spring". The story held my interest throughout the book. The characters were well written and interesting. China and Taiwan were also well-described, and I considered both countries to be characters. I would have like to have read a little more about China and Taiwan and Meilin's last years. A great book; I hope Melissa Fu will write another novel.
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Donna C. (Cary, NC)
Stunning generational story!
The writing was exquisite, and the characters in this novel will resonate long after finishing. The book is based on the author's own family, and what she learned about her father and grandmother's lives. I loved that I got to learn about WWII in an entirely different continent other than Europe. It also touches on the cultural revolution and the rise of communism, and how this affects Henry's fear and actions in America. The beautiful bond between Renshu and his mother in the early days was lovingly characterized, and there is a point about 2/3 of the way in that my heart absolutely ached for what plays out for them. While I found parts of Lily's story interesting (she is based on the author), my heart was really in it for Meilin and her fate. This story spans across three generations and many decades, and I was engaged until the very last page (and now I want to plant peach trees!).
An epic depiction of three lives, which includes instances of war, immigrant experience, immigration, parent/child bonds, activism, and more. Based on the author's family, the gorgeous cover of this one is definitely just a prelude to what is inside.
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